A Scottish Hopscotch to the Isle of Skye and the Hebrides Tuesday 5th April - Saturday 11th April 2022
A tour to delight with outstanding scenery in the Scottish Highland of mountains, lochs, forests and glens. The Isle of Skye is known for its rugged landscapes, picturesque fishing villages and medieval castles and in contrast the Isle of Lewis and the Isle of Harris are where we see dramatic island landscapes, Gaelic culture and historic traditions for an unforgettable Hebridean adventure. The 3* Alexandra Hotel Fort William Providing traditional Scottish hospitality and situated in the centre of Fort William.
The 4* Cuillin Hills Hotel This stunning hotel in Portree on the famous Island of Skye enjoys some of the finest and most spectacular views in Scotland.
The 4* Cabarfeidh Hotel Situated in the beautiful town of Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. The 3* Duke of Gordon Hotel Kingussie In the heart of the Scottish Highlands the Duke of Gordon hotel offers the warmest of Highland welcomes.
Tuesday 5th April We depart Nottingham this morning and travel to Fort William and the Alexandra Hotel. On arrival, after checking into our rooms for an overnight stay, relax and unwind before dinner this evening. To make our journey a pleasant experience lunch and comfort breaks will be made en-route. Wednesday 6th April After breakfast, the coach travels to Fort William for a free time to explore this attractive town, the largest in the west Highlands of Scotland and renowned for magnificent scenery with historic connections. Late morning, we re- join the coach and take the road to the Isles where you will be rewarded with some of the most spectacular scenery in the world, from sandy beaches to dramatic hills, green woodlands, heather moors and unforgettable sea views. We pass one of the most photographed castles in Scotland, Eilean Donan Castle with a stunning backdrop along the loch with a great arched stone bridge across the water. Finally, we come to The Isle of Skye road bridge connecting the mainland from Kyle of Lochalsh to Kyleakin on Skye. The bridge first opened in 1995 and it is the gateway to the Isle of Skye. The span is less than a mile but the impact on the isle of Skye has been infinite. We travel on to Portree, Skye’s largest and liveliest town and the capital of the Island with a pretty harbour lined by brightly painted houses, a pier designed by Thomas Telford and great views of the surrounding hills. We continue to the Cuillin Hills Hotel for a two-night half-board stay. After check in retire to your room before dinner.
Sharpes of Nottingham, Unit 6, Coach Gap Lane, Langar, Nottingham NG13 9HP Tel: 0115 989 4466 | [email protected] | www.sharpesofnottingham.com
Thursday 7th April Skye is a truly magical place, the largest of the Inner Hebrides and home to some of Scotland's most iconic landscapes. The island has countless ways to enchant you, with its mountain ranges, miles of dramatic coastline and captivating history. This morning our coach takes you on a fully guided day tour of Skye with our local guide Maria. There will be opportunities to take photographs of the Old Man of Storr and craggy hill located 2,359 feet above sea level. Moving on we come to Lealt Falls, a waterfall which cascades into a gorge with nearby cliffs overlooking the sea and further on the famous Kilt Rock a sea cliff in north east Trotternish. It is said to resemble a kilt, with vertical basalt columns to form the pleats. Skye's Trotternish Peninsula has a long and rich history, and it is here we will find the striking memorial to the Jacobite heroine, Flora MacDonald. When Bonnie Prince Charlie escaped following the Battle of Culloden in 1746, he went into hiding. He finally came to land on the island of Benbecula, where it was decided that he should move on to Skye. Flora was asked to help Charles escape to Skye dressed as an Irish spinning maid named Betty Burke and they sailed to Skye on 27th June 1746. We also Visit the Museum of Island Life. This afternoon we visit Dunvegan Castle probably the oldest inhabited castle in the north of Scotland. It has been occupied continuously by the Chiefs of the Clan MacLeod for more than 750 years. The present and 30th Clan Chief is Hugh Magnus MacLeod. The castle is in a wonderful setting on the shore of Loch Dunvegan where we have reserved a tour of the castle steeped in history and clan legend. Delight in the beauty of its formal gardens and browse in one of its four shops or relax in the café where we can take lunchtime refreshments on arrival. We return to Portree via the Cuillin Hills.
Friday 8th April After breakfast we travel northwards to the village of Uig set in a sheltered horseshoe-shaped bay on the West Coast. It is a charming port with ferry links to Uist and Harris and where we catch the ferry to Tarbert on Harris. The ferry route is operated by Caledonian MacBrayne and the crossing time is approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes with on-board refreshments available. The ferry port of Tarbert is the hub of Harris, a dramatic island of mountains and beaches. The mountains form a grand backdrop to the town, situated in a valley that slopes down to the port. We will have a short break here where you will find a selection of shops selling a variety of Harris Tweed clothing and accessories. There are also a small variety of restaurants and cafés for refreshments. The Isle of Harris and Isle of Lewis are at the North west corner of the group of Islands known as the Outer Hebrides, or Western Isles. The Hebrides are known as the "long island" as they stretch for 100 miles. The Isle of Harris is joined to the Isle of Lewis making one island. Harris has a wide range of landscapes, all of which have their own charm and interest. On the west coast lie some of the most spectacular beaches of Britain and in the north, the terrain is rugged, mountainous and has a Lunar feel to it. We travel northwards along the east coast which is more isolated and has some of the oldest rocks in the world, being dated at some three thousand million years old. The exposed rocks are a result of scouring by the glaciers in the Ice Ages. Stornoway on the east coast is the largest town of the island and the capital. We arrive at the 4* Cabarfeidh Hotel.
Sharpes of Nottingham, Unit 6, Coach Gap Lane, Langar, Nottingham NG13 9HP Tel: 0115 989 4466 | [email protected] | www.sharpesofnottingham.com
Saturday 9th April Lewis is a flat island with many spectacular sandy beaches, a rugged coastline and a landscape covered by a blanket of peat. Deposits of this started some 5000 years ago and today you can see it being cut and dried for later use as fuel. The underlying rock, Lewisian Gneiss, is thought to be 2900 million years old - half as old as the Earth itself. This morning we travel to the Butt of Lewis which is about as far north as you can go in the Western Isles comprising rocks and cliffs of 60 to 80 feet high. It is here we find a red brick lighthouse standing 121ft high which was built between 1859 and 1862 by David Stevenson. Since 1998 the Butt of Lewis Lighthouse is operated automatically. The cliff architecture of the Butt of Lewis is spectacular, and home to many seabirds including Penguins making this a great opportunity for photographs. We continue to the Black House at Arnol a traditional thatched house, fully furnished, complete with an attached barn, byre and stackyard. Built in around 1880, No. 42 gives a special insight into island life. The black house was once the residence of a Hebridean crafting family and their animals, they moved out in 1966 and today it is preserved almost as the family left it. A peat fire burns in the open hearth with the smoke filtering out through the roof. A furnished 1920s croft- house is also open to view. The new visitor centre is contained on one level, where there is a shop and exhibition area. We travel a short distance to the Gearrannan Black House Village a coastal crofting village situated in a secluded bay within the district of Carloway, on the west coast. Step back in time and see how the people once lived, by watching traditional activities including the weaving of the famous Harris Tweed. There is a small shop selling gifts to purchase and a café offering delicious homemade food. Moving on we get to walk among the megaliths at one of Scotland’s most magnificent and best-preserved Neolithic monuments, the Calanais Standing Stones. The extraordinary cross-shaped setting of stones erected 5,000 years ago predate England’s famous Stonehenge monument and were an important place for ritual activity for at least 2,000 years. Discover their history at the Visitor Centre with an exhibition, café and gift shop. We return to Stornoway, a bustling town with a busy harbour dealing with freight, ferry and leisure traffic and home to a significant fishing fleet. Many of the streets in the town centre are pedestrianised, providing good access to an interesting range of shops. We include a visit to The Lewis Loom Centre offering a guided tour and lecture on the making of Harris Tweed. Enjoy demonstrations of spinning wheels, warding, dyeing, the hand loom and weaving the tweed. There is also a craft gift shop for last minute shopping for a Hebridean souvenir and a lasting memory of your holiday.
Sharpes of Nottingham, Unit 6, Coach Gap Lane, Langar, Nottingham NG13 9HP Tel: 0115 989 4466 | [email protected] | www.sharpesofnottingham.com
Sunday 10th April We have a free morning to discover Stornoway the capital of the Outer Hebrides and the largest settlement in the Western Isles. The harbour here is one of the prettiest harbours in the area frequented by many seals. Within the town centre lie the grounds of Lews Castle, the name a reminder of the way the Islands name was originally spelt. The castle is a splendid sight, and its grounds are host to the island’s only woodland of any significance, a mixed forest planted and carefully tended and cared for trees that are rare elsewhere on account of the acidic soil. The Castle has a very interesting free Museum and a café for refreshments. The main street in Stornoway is called Cromwell Street as Cromwell’s Parliamentary forces fought to take control of the town. Stornoway also played a great part in both WWI and WWII. This afternoon we travel down to board our Caledonian MacBrayne ferry for an afternoon sailing to Ullapool. The crossing time is approximately 2hrs 30minutes with on board facilities available. On arrival in Ullapool, we disembark and travel to Kingussie for our one-night stay at the Duke of Gordon Hotel. After check in retire to your room and relax before dinner this evening.
Monday 11th April This morning after breakfast we start our journey home with lunch and comfort breaks en-route to make our journey a pleasant one.
Tour includes: Door to door taxi/minibus, executive coach travel with courier/hostess service, 1 night at the Alexandra Hotel Fort William with bed, dinner and full Scottish breakfast, Caledonian MacBrayne ferry crossings Uig to Tarbert and Stornoway to Ullapool, 2 Nights half-board at the Cuillin Hills Hotel Skye, full day guided coach of Isle of Skye by Maria our local guide with visits to the Museum of Island Life, Dunvegan Castle, 2 nights half-board at the Cabarfeidh Hotel Stornoway, Coach tour of the Isle of Lewis with visits to The Butt of Lewis, the Black House Museum, the Gearrannan Black House Village, the Calanais Standing Stones and Visitor Centre and the Lewis Loom Centre and guided tour, 1 night half board at the Duke of Gordon Hotel Kingussie. Tour extras: Any fees, fares, lunches or refreshments en-route are not included in the above tour.
Tour costs from: £1160.00 per person sharing twin/double room Single Supplement: £160.00 Deposit: £100.00 per person PLEASE NOTE: The above itinerary may be subject to change – terms and conditions are available on request and we recommend that as our clients you take out insurance against any eventuality, medical or otherwise on all our holidays on booking. “Sharpes of Nottingham” are members of the Bonded Coach Holiday Group of the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK Ltd. This is a government approved consumer protection scheme. This ensures that in relation to the coach package holidays described in this brochure (or website) that the clients' monies are protected by a Bond which may be called upon in the unlikely event of the Member’s Insolvency. Clients are recommended to inspect the current membership certificate at our registered office or alternatively go to www.bch-uk.org or telephone 0207 240 3131 to confirm current membership. Your attention is also drawn to the Bonded Coach Holiday Group Trading Charter that will apply to these coach package holidays. All Coach Holidays within this publication are subject to the Bonded Coach Holiday Group Trading Charter. A copy of the Trading Charter will be issued with all booking confirmations. Alternatively, either request a copy of the Trading Charter from the head office or view online at Sharpes of Nottingham Website.
Sharpes of Nottingham, Unit 6, Coach Gap Lane, Langar, Nottingham NG13 9HP Tel: 0115 989 4466 | [email protected] | www.sharpesofnottingham.com